Biodiesel: The What, How, and Why

A Jar of Biodiesel

WHAT?

Biodiesel is an alternative fuel that can replace or be mixed with diesel in any proportion and can be used in any diesel engine with little or no modifications. Biodiesel can be made from any fat or oil such as olive oil, canola oil, or beef tallow.

HOW?

In America biodiesel is made primarily from soybean oil. Biodiesel is reacted by mixing the oil with a catalyst and adding heat. The catalyst most commonly used is methoxide. This catalyst is made by mixing lye (a chemical found in drain cleaner or soap) and methanol (a chemical commonly used as an engine cleaner).

WHY?

Biodiesel has better emission characteristics, less toxicity and produces the same amount of power as regular diesel. Biodiesel produces about the same amount of carbon dioxide as diesel yet most of the carbon dioxide produced was adsorbed from the atmosphere by the plant from which the vegetable oil came from, therefore there is a less of a net accumulation of carbon in the atmosphere.

Overall, Biodiesel is a well rounded alternative fuel source with a viable future--especially at West Virginia University!

Questions or comments may be sent to wvubiodieselproject@gmail.com . Or, if you or anyone you know would like to get involved, we have meetings on Wednesday @ 5pm in the Engineering Sciences Building, Room 425 on the Evansdale campus. Everyone is welcome!

Until next time...